NBC Bans Ann Coulter

UPDATE, January 6, 2008: 'Today' Replaces Banned/Bumped Ann Coulter with Rachel Maddow

If NBC wanted to send a message that it sides with the Leftists, it was loud clear when Maddow was picked to replace Coulter.

NewsBusters has the full transcript.
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UPDATE: NBC: Coulter isn't Banned

Following up on the news that Ann Coulter's appearance Tuesday morning on "Today" was canceled, and Drudge's report that she's been banned for life, an NBC spokesperson issued the following statement to Politico.

"We’ve had Ann Coulter on 'Today' many times, but because of the news in Washington and the Middle East, we decided to cancel her appearance tomorrow. Understanding the media as well as she does, we are sure she knows this happens from time to time. We look forward to welcoming her back in the future."

On Sean Hannity's radio show today, Coulter spoke about the "'Today' show jerking me along," and then "canceling at the last minute." Tonight, she'll be on Fox's Hannity & Colmes and tomorrow on the CBS Early Show.

Sure, bumping Coulter might be understandable due to events like the conflict in Gaza. So then why is "Today" still having Perez Hilton on tomorrow?

An NBC spokesperson said that Hilton had been booked for months. And it's true that Hilton will appear during the fourth hour, which is a less newsy portion of the show, beginning at 10 a.m. But according to Coulter's website, she was slated to appear twice: during the normal "Today" show (7 to 10 a.m.) and during the fourth hour.

More, from Politico:

NBC has now offered Coulter a segment on Wednesday's "Today." No word yet on whether she'll accept.

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According to Drudge, NBC has banned Ann Coulter for life.

The nation's top selling conservative author has been banned from appearing on NBC, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT, banned for life! "We are just not going to have her on any more," a top network source explains.

NBC BANS COULTER FOR LIFE; CUT FROM 'TODAY' SHOW OVER BOOK'S CLAIMS, NO MORE CABLE

If this is true, it's one of the most extreme moves a news outlet has ever made.

For life?

Good grief.

Media Matters has been waging a campaign to halt Coulter's appearance on Today, scheduled for January 6, 2009.

The TAX-EXEMPT Leftist political organization succeeded.

From Media Matters:

According to Politico's Michael Calderone, Ann Coulter's scheduled appearance on NBC's Today has been cancelled.

Coulter is still scheduled to appear on CBS' Early Show tomorrow, according to her web page. This follows the recent revelation that CBS considered including Coulter on the "independent" panel it created to investigate a 60 Minutes report on President Bush's National Guard record.

Media Matters is a Leftist hack organization, yet it has a tax-exempt status.

Go figure.

If NBC has indeed banned Ann Coulter and is doing the bidding of the radical Left, it's the network's loss.

I would boycott Today, but I stopped watching it about 6 years ago, maybe more. I'd boycott NBC's Nightly News, but I never watch that either. MSNBC? Are you kidding?

I guess some letters to the sponsors of NBC's "news" propaganda programs are in order.

And Media Matters should be stripped of its tax-exempt status.
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More, from Drudge.

The nation's top selling conservative author has been banned from appearing on NBC, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

Banned for life!

"We are just not going to have her on any more, it's over," a top network source explains.

NBC's TODAY show abruptly cut Ann Coulter from its planned Tuesday broadcast, claiming the schedule was overbooked.

Coulter was set to unveil her new book, GUILTY.

But one network insider claims it was the book's theme -- a brutal examination of liberal bias in the new era -- that got executives to dis-invite the controversialist.

"We are just not interested in anyone so highly critical of President-elect Obama, right now," a TODAY insider reveals. "It's such a downer. It's just not the time, and it's not what our audience wants, either."

...Executives at NBC TODAY replaced Coulter with showbiz reporter Perez Hilton, who recently offered $1,000 to anyone who would throw a pie at Ann Coulter. Hilton is also launching a new book this week, RED CARPET SUICIDE.

That replacement reminds me of when David Letterman replaced John McCain with Keith Olbermann.

Of course in that case, McCain cancelled. He wasn't disinvited by Letterman. Still, it was a spiteful move by Letterman to book the Leftist, Republican-hating Olbermann.

The propagandists at Today can't really think that Perez Hilton will draw a larger audience than Coulter. The Left loves to hate Coulter. People on the Right and the Left would be interested in her appearance.

I suppose NBC fears a long term backlash. The network doesn't want to tick off its Left-leaning audience. Anyway, NBC News gave up on being a legitimate news outlet long ago. It's a Leftist oasis.

Nonetheless, a lifetime ban on Ann Coulter is extreme.

What's funny about this is that NBC and Media Matters have probably helped Coulter sell more books by these moves and the surrounding publicity than if Coulter would have been allowed simply to appear on Today as scheduled.

What a gift they've given Coulter on the eve of her book's release!

That kind of publicity is priceless.